CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly contagious

hemorrhagic disease of pigs, warthogs, European wild boar and

American wild pigs. A severe viral disease affecting domestic and

wild pigs is caused by a large DNA virus which also infects ticks

of the genus opisthodomos. African swine fever virus (ASFV) is

responsible for serious economic and production losses because of

the right rates of illness and death associated with the disease.

ASF has the potential to spread rapidly and since a vaccine is

currently not available, control options are limited to rapid

diagnosis of the disease and culling of infected animals contact

with them according to World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is widespread in Africa but

is rarely introduced to other continents. In June 2007, ASFV was

confirmed in the Caucasus region of Georgia that pigs were fed

ASFV contaminated pork brought in on ships and the disease was

disseminated throughout the region. Historically, outbreaks have

been reported in Africa and parts of Europe, South America and

the Caribbean. More multiple countries across Africa, Asia and

Europe, in both domestic and wild pigs. ASF effect hog raisers in

Africa to have been weakening alongside the hopes urban livestock

raisers can recoup their losses as well as the source of their

income.

The Philippines had an outbreak of African swine fever virus

last year, with its first case reported in July 2019. Have been

confirmed in parts of Luzon including Metro Manila, Bulacan,

Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Cavite, Benguet and most

recently in some areas in Mindanao. It was in Davao Occidental

where ASF was first reported to have reached the southern

Philippines. The whole province has been placed under a state of

calamity after 10,000 hogs were affected by the viral disease.

Philippine hog raisers struggle in ASF outbreak. ASF has caused

serious production and economic losses in the region, and its

impact in the Philippines will depend on the government and

private sector’s ability to limit its spread from the initially

affected areas.

The study would know the impact of ASF in Naga City

particularly in two (2) barangay’s which are Pacol and Cararayan

both in Naga. After the African swine fever (ASF) has been

reached in Bicol region. Naga City council also declares state of

calamity after the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National

Meat Inspection Service confirmed that organ samples from pigs at

two villages were positive for African Swine Fever (ASF), a

disease deadly pigs but doesn’t affect humans. The village marked
as “ground zero or point reference for determining the

quarantine, surveillance, and Pigs inside a 1-kilometer radius of

the infected villages had been culled to prevent the spread of

the virus. The city government of Naga Camarines Sur has ordered

the two-week closure of its slaughterhouse and culling of pigs

after blood samples hogs in two villages that mention above

tested positive for African swine fever (ASF) Pigs are housed in

simple backyard structure and fed a range of a waste food or by-

products, often with some commercial feed added. Many farmers

felt bad and hesitant by knowing that they needed to surrender

their pigs for culling. The impact of ASF on hog raisers farmers

in Naga was suffered their livelihoods. However, even the local

swine and feed industry stepped up to financially compensate to

the affected farmers in ASF they are not enough to build another

business to sustain their daily lives.

This research focused the impact of African swine fever (ASF)

to the hog raisers in Barangay Pacol and Cararayan Naga city.

Also, this study will offer recommendations that are supported by

published literatures which will be cited in the latter part of

this study.

Significance of the Study

The study will benefit the following:

Piggery Farm Owner. This study will be helpful to the piggery

farm owner to have an in-depth knowledge on proper handling and

maintenance of their piggery from daily routine to avoid ASF.

This study would also help them to adopt better cost-effective

spending practice on the maintenance of their piggery.

Wholesaler/Retailer of pigs.
 Future Researchers. it is also worthy that the study can be

used as a basis for further research, as the research can be used

as a spring board for further research as well as a good

reference material to students undertaking similar research.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the impact of African swine

fever virus (ASFV) on backyard swine raisers Naga City.

Specifically seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of backyard swine raisers in Naga

City in terms of number of swine managed, capitalization,

status of ASF infection, livelihood type?

2. How many backyard raisers are affected by ASFV?

3. What is the impact of ASFV to the backyard raisers in

terms of production and sales?

4. What measures are implemented by the local City

government of Naga in combating the impact of ASFV to

backyard raisers?

Scope and Delimitation

The study will determine the impact of African swine fever

virus (ASFV) on backyard raisers in two (2) barangays of Naga

City – Barangay Cararayan and Barangay Pacol. Backyard raisers

including those who have existed already for at least five (5) or
more years. Total revenue loss was also determined. The

researchers have planned to survey 40 hog raisers those who are

affected on ASF in two (2) barangays. The study period was from

March to September, 2020 covering part of the ASFV outbreak.

Theoretical Framework

In figure 1, shows the four theories that will help the

researchers namely: Simulation of African swine fever theory,

Epidemiological Consideration on African swine fever virus Theory

and Ecological theory.

Epidemiological
consideration on African
swin Fever virus
2019
as cited by
Simulation spread of E Chenais
Ecological Theory
African swine fever virus
2020
2016
as cited by
as cited by
T halasa John Wiley

Impact of
African Swine
Fever(ASF)on
Backyard
Farmers in Naga
City
 Figure 1. Theoretical Framework Illustrating the Main and

Supporting Theories

T Halasa (2016) Simulation spread of African Swine Fever

virus. Explained that animal can be in one of the following

stages: susceptible, latent, subclinical, clinical, or recovered.

Animals can be infectious during the subclinical stage and are

fully infectious during the clinical stage. Therefore, splitting

into subclinical and clinical stages facilitates the possibility

of infection through sub clinically infected animals and the

possibility to vary infectiousness depending on factors, such as

virus excretion and contact type.

E Chenais (2019) Epidemiological Consideration on African

swine fever (ASF. cited that the viral disease of pigs, affecting

domestic pigs and wild boar of all ages without sex

predilections. Moreover, depending on virus strain and

immunological status of the animal, infection can lead to a wide

range of clinical presentations varying from per-acute to chronic

disease, including apparently asymptomatic courses. Infection

with virulent strains typically causes per-acute to acute lethal

ASF with signs including sudden death, high fever, hemorrhages in

the skin and internal organs. The animals usually die within

three to ten days after infection and the case fatality rate can

reach 90% or more.

John Wiley (2020) Ecological theory. focused mechanisms by

which pathogens transmit between hosts is key for defining

disease risk and for planning effective control strategies. In

addition to direct host‐to‐host or vector‐borne transmission,

pathogens can spread through environmental sources, such as

through contact with fomites. Environmental sources of infection

can promote pathogen persistence by increasing their likelihood

of contact with susceptible hosts because many pathogens can

remain viable in the environment longer than they can keep a host

infectious. For example, epidemiological models demonstrate that

pathogens can persist in small populations at very low levels of

prevalence when infectious agents remain viable in the

environment.

Conceptual Framework

This study focuses on the impact of African Swine Fever on

backyard raisers in Naga City, to know the measures and

restrictions made by the local government.

 Impact of African Swine Fever on

Backyard Raisers in Naga City

PROFILE OF
RESPONDENTS
Name Impact on
Measures
Age ASFV backyard Raisers
Gender Implemented
Civil Status
Level of
Education

figure 2. Illustrating the Conceptual Framework

The first input that was used is the profile of the

respondents in Naga City who are affected on ASF. In this

research, the researchers analyzed the profile of the respondents

along age, gender, civil status and level of education. These

variables will greatly impact the result of this study.

The second variables that was used in this study are the

impact on ASFV in backyard raisers. The primary aim of

researchers is to know how the selected backyard raisers are

severely affected and the impact of the ASF virus to their lives.

The last variable illustrated measures implemented such as

trade restriction, pig depopulation, strict biosecurity,

checkpoints and restrictions that are being provided by the

national and local government to prevent transmission of the

virus.

Assumption

African Swine Fever Virus outbreaks pose a significant

threat to the profitability of livestock production throughout

backyard farms.

Hypothesis

H1: There is possible significant free-grazing pigs population

density and African Swine Fever Virus occurrence.

H2: There is no significant profile affect to the ASF.

Definition of Terms